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Pukaha News

Kids can show their support for conservation by tackling the Pukaha loop track as part of the Wild Challenge Kids Run on Sunday September 27.

Lots of kids want to actively help out with conservation efforts and this is a great way for them to get out into our native forest as well. Kids don’t have to run the course - they can choose to walk or run. The Wild Challenge Kids Run is a participation event and by getting out into the forest kids can show that they support the restoration of a forest full of native species.

A National ‘Service to Conservation’ Award was presented to Pukaha Mount Bruce Chair Bob Francis at the annual New Zealand Zoo and Aquarium Association Conference held in Rotorua on 22 and 23 July.

Mr Francis was nominated by general manager Helen Tickner for his dedication to conservation at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, in particular his ability to lead the Board from the position as Chair and also his fundraising skills.

The team at Pukaha Mount Bruce are celebrating having again been awarded a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence and also retaining their Qualmark Endorsed Visitor Activity and Enviro Gold Status with an increased score from 76% to 91%.

6 female Antipodes Island Parakeet have taken up residency at Pukaha Mount Bruce from 21 April 2015. Hatched and raised at the Esplanade in Palmerston North, these inquisitive and characterful birds have immediately settled into their new home with a minimum of fuss and plenty of chattery noise.

Pukaha's annual fundraising dinner will be held on 28 April at the Copthorne Solway Park and Resort and organisers are hoping for a great turnout.

Tickets are $95 each (or a table of 10 for $900) and includes drinks, canapes, dinner and entertainment. There is also an auction with pieces including a photograph by Rebecca Kempton, a signed vinyl LP from Ladyhawke, dinner and a guided night walk for 10 people at Pukaha Mount Bruce and a signed jersey by Liam Malone. Mystery envelopes and raffles will also be available on the night

Last week one of the DoC rangers who regularly monitors the kiwi at Pukaha Mount Bruce found not one, but two white kiwi in a burrow at Pukaha Mount Bruce. This brings the number of white North Island Brown kiwi to be hatched at Pukaha since 2010 to five.

In keeping with our theme of Love this February, we're pleased to announce the arrival of "Valentine" who hatched at Pukaha at 6pm on Saturday 14 February 2015.

Valentine will remain in a warm brooder for the next 5 days until he is ready to be introduced to food. He will then be fed daily at 12 noon until he's reached his hatch weight. As participants in Operation Nest Egg, Pukaha kiwi are creched until they reach 1.2 kilos and are then placed into the Pukaha Mount Bruce forest.

Valentine hatched from the 85th kiwi egg brought into the Pukaha nursery since 2005.

In an attempt to keep track of more male kiwi in the Pukaha forest, we recently had Jo Sims and her kiwi tracking dogs Maddie and Rua on site. They found a very interesting juvenile kiwi we've nicknamed "Patchy" and you can see why by the photo!